Job Information
General Atomics Software Developer VII in Poway, California
53530BR
Company:
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Job Summary:
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is seeking a Senior (Principal-Level) Autonomy Test Automation Architect to define, lead, and scale the enterprise validation architecture for mission autonomy systems across operational aircraft and distributed autonomous platforms.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This is a technical leadership and organizational impact role, not an individual contributor test architect.
This position establishes the technical vision, architecture, governance, and organizational strategy for validating AI-driven mission autonomy at operational scale — spanning MIL, SIL, HIL, flight test, and fielded fleet analytics.
You will define how GA-ASI engineers trust, certifies, fields, and continuously improves autonomy systems operating in contested and degraded environments.
Enterprise Autonomy Validation Architecture (Strategic Ownership)
Define and govern the enterprise autonomy verification & validation (V&V) architecture
Establish standardized frameworks spanning MIL → SIL → HIL → flight test → fleet feedback loops
Drive traceability from autonomy requirements to mission-level performance outcomes
Establish reusable validation infrastructure across multiple autonomy programs
Define certification-ready validation artifacts aligned with customer and regulatory requirements
AI Confidence & Trust Engineering
Architect statistical confidence frameworks for AI robustness, safety, and mission effectiveness
Define measurable autonomy readiness and deployment thresholds
Establish adversarial, resilience, and edge-case stress strategies
Develop explainability, traceability, and mission-decision accountability frameworks
Lead AI assurance methodologies aligned with emerging DoD autonomy governance standards
We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.
Job ID#:
53530BR
Job Category:
Engineering
Travel Percentage Required:
0% - 25%
Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full-Time Salary
State:
California
Clearance Level:
Top Secret (SCI access eligible)
Pay Range Low:
140,940
City:
Poway
Clearance Required?:
Desired
Pay Range High:
252,293
Recruitment Posting Title:
Sr. System Test Autonomation Architect - Supervisor
Job Qualifications:
Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in computer science, information systems or related discipline and progressive software development experience as follows; fifteen or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, thirteen or more years of experience with a masters degree, or ten or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
Experience:
Extensive experience in autonomy systems, AI/ML validation, or large-scale safety-critical system verification
Demonstrated experience architecting complex automation frameworks
Experience leading technical teams or enterprise initiatives preferred
Technical Depth Required:
Autonomy & AI validation methodologies
MIL/SIL/HIL integration
Modeling & Simulation ecosystems
Distributed systems testing
DevSecOps, MLOps, CI/CD
Statistical performance evaluation
Python, C++, or equivalent autonomy test languages
Other Requirements:
Strong executive communication and briefing skills
Ability to influence across matrixed organizations
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / SCI security clearance is required (active clearance strongly preferred).
US Citizenship Required?:
Yes
Experience Level:
Senior (8+ years)
Relocation Assistance Provided?:
No
Workstyle:
Onsite
General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.